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SF Rec and Park Unveils Mission Dolores Park Improvement Design Plan

Final Design Plan Presented at Open House

SAN FRANCISCO – SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) unveiled the Mission Dolores Park Improvement Design Plan at a neighborhood open house took place at Mission High School during the evening on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The $11.7 Million budget for the improvements at Mission Dolores Park is funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. The 2008 Parks Bond was approved by 71.6% of San Francisco voters.

“We are thrilled that the community planning process has led us to this well-thought out design plan” said Phil Ginsburg, RPD General Manager. “We look forward to improving and beautifying one of our most beloved parks in San Francisco.”

The bond measure listed infrastructure improvement as part of the requirement for this project. The infrastructure includes the repair and renovation of the courts, field, and play area, restoration of existing roads and pathways, upgrades to subsurface infrastructure, irrigation and lighting, modifications to the site to remove barriers and improve accessibility, and overall reconditioning of the park landscape.

However, rest of the improvement design plan was driven by a community planning process that engaged all the existing park steward groups as project leaders through a project steering committee. There was a series of 13 Steering Committee meetings and public workshops, and an additional of 30-40 informal subcommittee meetings to prepare material and propose design solutions.

“I am proud that so many of our community members care about Mission Dolores Park and have worked hard to make it a better park.” said Supervisor Scott Wiener. “I also applaud SF Rec and Park for its dedication to working with our community and serving children and families living in our neighborhood.”

As a result, the proposed plan also includes improved ADA-compliant entries and pathways, renovated sport courts (including a new multi-use court), a new operations building beneath the basketball court, 2 new restroom buildings, removal of the current operations and restroom building, proposed improvements to the MUNI tracks, safe crossing across Church Street, entirely new irrigation and drainage, new picnic areas, a completely renovated multi-use field, two improved dog play areas, and overall rehabilitation of the landscape. All of these improvements are possible and respecting the widely-held community desire to fix Mission Dolores Park while changing it as little as possible.

Today, Mission Dolores Park is approximately 16.1 acres, and bordered on four sides by Church, Dolores, 18th, and 20th Streets. The Park has six tennis courts, one basketball court, one large multi-use sports field, a children’s playground, and operations building with public restrooms. There are also two designated off-leash dog play areas. The formal entrance to the park is located in the middle of the park on Dolores Street where 19th Street terminates at the park. The entire west edge of the park is bound by SF Municipal Railway’s J-Church local metro streetcar.

Mission Dolores Park’s heavy usage has resulted in the park being “loved to death” by its community. Evidence of this can be found everywhere in the park: trampled plants, constant littering, compacted soil, overused restrooms, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and obsolete irrigation. There are more than 3,700 park users visiting Mission Dolores Park on a typical Saturday.